Toy fountain



March 19, 1957 A. NEVELlNG, SR 2,785,895

TOY FOUNTAIN Filed Nov. 23, 195:5 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Y i IN V EN TOR.

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March 19, 1957 A. NEVELING, SR

T-OY FOUNTAIN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 23, .1953

- IN VEN TOR.

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United States Patent TOY FOUNTAIN Aloys Neveling, Sr., Chicago, Ill.

Application November 23, 1953, Serial No. 393,793

2 Claims. (Cl. 272-8) This invention relates to improvements in toysand, in particular, to a novel fountain adapted to be operated manuallyby a child although capable of being connected to the water supply andinstalled as an ornament on the lawn or elsewhere.

The invention is based upon the discovery that the forces of gravity,centrifugal force and capillary attraction may be utilized to cause asolid vertical stream of water to hold a light weight ball in asuspended spinning position at the side of the stream near its top,whereby there is produced an attractive device particularly adapted foruse as a toy or ornament. The ball oscillates vertically at the side ofthe stream while at the same time rotating about a horizontal axis andsimultaneously revolving around the stream and throwing a fine spray ofwater in all directions, thus presenting a fascinating spectacle whichis of value for entertainment and educational purposes.

In the operation of this device the solid stream of water impingestangentially on the ball and carries it upwardly to a point of balancewhere the vertical component of the force applied by the stream equalsthe force of gravity acting on the ball. As the velocity of the streamvaries, the ball dances up and down while spinning about its own axisand revolving bodily about the stream so that the device may be properlytermed a dancing ball fountain.

The foregoing features and objects of the invention and many others willappear more fully from the following specification taken withtheaccompanying drawings in which two embodiments of the invention areillustrated. In the drawings,

Figure 1 shows a side elevation the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows a vertical section taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section similar to a portion of that ofFig.2, showing somewhat diagrammatically the action of the water on theball;

Fig. 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic plan view of the upper end of thestream and the ball showing the ball revolving bodily about the axis ofthe stream; and

Fig. 5 shows a partial side elevation and partial 'vertical sectionthrough a modified form of the invention adapted for use as a lawn0rnament.-

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the invention is embodied in a toycomprising a base adapted to rest upon a table or other support 11 andshaped in the form of a circular pan so that it will collect any waterdripping from the parts which are located above it. A metal cylinder 12is located centrally with respect to the base 10 and has its lower edgessecured thereto to form a chamber 13 adapted to contain the water whichis circulated through the device. The upper end of the cylinder 12 has awater-tight connection with the bottom wall of a drip pan which is ofsmaller diameter than the base 10 and which is adapted to collect thewater flowing over the edges of the collecting pan 15. The drip pan of atoy embodying ice 14 has a central opening 14a around which there issecured the lower edge of a cylinder 16 which extends up wardlytherefrom with its top edge secured to the bottom wall 15a of the pan15.

A water. pipe 18 is secured in the bottom wall 15a of the pan 15 and ithas its open lower end located within the chamber 13 to receive thewater which is collected in this chamber. The cylinder 16 forms an airchamber 19 around the pipe 18 in which the air is compressed to form acushion for the water which collects in the chamber 13 and in the lowerpart of the cylinder 16. The upper end of the pipe 18 extends into atubular support 20 and has connected therein a hand operated valve 21and a nozzle 22. The tubular member 20 is provided with a top wall 29ahaving a centrally located circular aperture therein which is adapted toform a support for a ball 25 adapted to be acted upon by a stream ofwater discharged through the nozzle 22.

A funnel shaped member 26 terminates at its lower end in a sleeve 260:which fits around the upper end of the tubular member 20 and which isprovided with an internal flange 26b adapted to rest upon the top Wall20a of the tubular member. The funnel shaped member 26 forms a seat forthe tapered lower extremity 27a of a tube 27 formed of Celluloid orother transparent material which extends upwardly with its axis inalignment with the axis of the aperture of the nozzle 22 so that whenwater is moved upwardly through the pipe 18 under pressure, a solidstream 23 is projected vertically upward and carries the ball 25upwardly from its seat so that it is suspended at the top of the stream28 and at the side of the axis of the stream, as illustrated in Fig. 2.The water then flows downwardly from the top of the stream along thewall of the tube 27 and it then passes through openings 26:: in the sideof the cone-shaped member 26 so that it can then flow downwardly aroundthe outside of the tubular member 20 into the collecting pan 15.

In order to supply pressure for moving the water upwardly from thechamber 13 through the pipe 18 and the nozzle 22, a pipe 29 is connectedto the side of the drip pan 14 and arranged to lead through an outwardlyflowing check valve 30 to a pump 31 from which a discharge pipe 32 leadsthrough the check valve 33 to the lower part of the chamber 13. The pump31 may be in the form of a compressible bellows but it is preferablyconstructed as a reciprocating pump operated by a lever 31a and having ahandle 31]; which may be grasped by the hand of the child so that, uponreciprocation of the lever 31a, the water is drawn from the pan 14through the check valve 36 into the pump and then discharged through thecheck valve 33 into the chamber 13 from which it passes upwardly underpressure through the open valve 21 and through the nozzle 22, thuscausing the discharge of the vertical solid stream of water 28 whichcarries the ball 25 upwardly and holds it in a suspended position aspreviously described. The height to which the ball will be elevated bythe stream will depend upon the velocity of the water in the stream andthe ball may occupy the positions illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 2or other positions depending upon the operation of the pump 31 and theadjustment of the valve 21. The tube27 is provided at its upper end withan outwardly flared portion 2717 on which there is seated a cover 34secured to the tube by a hinge 35. The flared portion 27b tends to turninto the tube any water which reaches the extreme upper end thereof andthe cover 34 prevents the discharge of any spray from the stream, sothat the toy is adapted for indoor use.

As shown in Fig. 3, the valve 21 has a rotatable valve member 21aprovided with an internal passage 21b adapted to align with the passagethrough the valve casing andthese' passages are preferably so alignedduring the 'besufllcient space to permit the stream 25; to impinge uponthe ball ZS'Without'the ball closing the port 22.) iuthe. nozzle throughwhich the water is discharged. The ball 25 is preferably formed ofCelluloid or other light weight material and is preferably about thesizeof a ping pongball, that is, about 1 inches in diameter. The bestresults appear to be obtained when the pressure of the water is from 5to pounds per square inch. When the water is discharged under thispressure from the nozzle 22, it carries the ball upwardly from its. seatand the ball moves laterally until it occupies a position t the side ofthe stream where it is held by capillary attraction in contactrwith thestream of water. Then, the force of the stream impinging upon the sideof the ball causes it to rotate and the vertical component of the forceso applied carries the ball upwardly againstthe force of gravity untilit reaches an uppermost position where a condition of balance isobtained, whereupon the ball continues to spin about its own axis whileat the same time throwing oil sprays of water, as shown at 37 in Fig. 3.Due to the action of centrifugal force, the water appears to collect onthe side of the ball which is toward thestream in a blanket 38 boundedby a rotating ridge of water 39 from which the sprays of water 37 flyoff. The reaction of the water on the ball causes the ball to rotateabout a vertical axis and to move bodily around the axis of: the stream23, as illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 4. Thus, when the ball is inits uppermost position, it is, spinning about a vertical axis due tothevfor-ce of the stream of water impinging upon its periphery and thismotion is combined with a rotary motion of the ball about a horizontalaxis and a movement of the ball bodily about the axis of the stream. Atthe same time, the variation-3f the force the water in the stream 23causes the ball 25' to move upwardly and downwardly so that averyinteresting and spectacular etlfect is obtained.

The invention may also be employed as an ornament mounted on a lawn andpermanently connected to a water supply, as shown in Fig. 5. As thereillustrated, the

invention comprises a base adapted to rest upon the ground 41 andcarrying at its upper end a bowl 42 formed of stone, concrete, or othersuitable material which'may serve as a bird bath. A water pipe 43 isembedded in the base 46 and extends upwardly through the middle of thebottom of the bowl 42 with a nozzle 44 connected in the upper endthereof. The pipe 43 is connected through a hand operated valve 45 witha pipe 46 ,c on ne o h Water pp y ma n y regulating the valve 45, thevelocity of the water discharged u wardly through the nozzle 44 may beregulated. A-cylinder 48 is mounted on the bottom of the bowl 42 andextends upwardly above the top level of the bowl where its rolled edge48:: serves as a support for a transparent tube 390f Celluloid" or"the-like. This tube is provided with a tapered lower extremity 49awhich rests upon the edge 48a of the cylinder and its top edge is flaredoutwardly as shown at 4%. When the valve is opened, a solid stream 50 isdischarged upwardly from the nozzle 44 and the ball 51, which haspreviously been seated at the bottom end of the tube 49=,-is vcarricdupwardly and caused to partake of the oscillatory and rotating movementswhich have previously been described. The tapered lower end 49:; of thetubeA ihmt a central opening 49c which is somewhatsmaller.thanthediameter of theball 51 so that, when the water has beenshut off and the ballSl is in its lower position;ithwilbhesupportedsomewhat above the upper surface of the nozzle 44. The Water which fliesoil from the upper end of the stream 51 flows downwardly along the innersurface of the tube 49 and is discharged into the cylinder 48 fromWhichit flows through openings 48b intothe bowl 42 which may then serveas a bird bath.

7 Although twoemboidimcnts ofrthe invention have been shownand'described by way of illustration, it will be understood thatit maybe constructed in various other embodiments which come within the scopeof the appended claims.

l im:

1. A; fountain comprisinga vertically directednozzle, a ball, meansforsupporting said ball above said nozzle in spaced,relation,:thereto,means for supplying water under pressure, tosaid nozzle to cause a solidstream to be discharged vertically and .to suspend said ball above saidsupport byathelaction of the Water stream impinging-substnntially.tangentially on...the ball, and a transparent casingraroundsaid streamandspaced from said ball.

2. A fountain comprising a vertically directed nozzle, a alhmcansincluding: attube for supporting saidball above .said'nQzzle-inspacedrelation theretmmeans for upp y ng water. underflpressureto said nouleto cause a Solid stream..to.be discharged vertically and to suspend saidbalLabove .said support by, the. action of the water stream.impingiugsubstantially tangentially on the ball, atransparent..casinguaroundusaid stream and spaced from said ball, meansfor, collecting the water flowing downwardly through said tube, andmeansfor causing said waterflpressuremeansto re-discharge the water. socollected. through said. nozzle.

., Relfereucesflited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS179,977 Turrettini July 18, 1876 362,606 Chadwick MaylO, 1887 5511630"-Gray Dec. 17, 1895 755,114 Damm Mar. 22; 1904 1,854,613 -Ishikawa Apr.19, 1932 PATENTS -578,355- Eranee l June 30, 1924 "j REFERENCES.TextbookotPhXdcssby- Spinney, published, by Macmillau,.Co.;,of NewYOlEkjiIl 1920, page 155, copy in Patent Ofiice Library,

